Hello hello punks! Well and truly into my hot water bottle season now but interestingly, a lot of the punk I’ve been listening to and loving has had a distinctly sunny vibe. Maybe I’m overcompensating? This week’s picks are pretty upbeat and up tempo but I’ve snuck in something a bit heavier this week too for all you hard heads.
Young Hearts- ‘Hell or High Water‘
Kent’s punk rock foursome Young Hearts have a new track which is optimistic and uplifting in both tone and content. Jangly melody, a power pop chorus but all with a punk rock pace- this is the whole package. Commenting on the single the band said: “‘Hell or High Water’ is a reminder to myself to hold onto that positive, ‘glass-half-full’ kind of energy, whatever the weather. As everyone knows, life has a habit of testing us, and pushing our outlook to the limit, so it’s not always easy to find the light through the darkness.” The band released their debut EP ‘Everything We Left Behind‘ in 2015 and their debut full length- ‘The Modern State‘- followed in 2017. Their last LP was 2023’s ‘Somewhere Through The Night‘ so seems like this single is heralding some new music heading our way. With the plucky spirit that comes from being a band from a small town, their ability to combine heart and depth with a punk edge should win them your affection.
‘Hell or High Water is out now. Listening options HERE.
Thirsty Curses- ‘Bombs Away‘
Ahhh it’s my faves- North Carolina’s Thirsty Curses. Nothing if not eclectic, the trio cannot and will not be pinned down to one genre, spanning country, americana, pop and in the case of their new single, punk. No matter what sound any particular track goes for, there are some things that are consistently part of the Thirsty Curses package- personal songwriting that reads like a sonic biography of frontman and lyricist Wilson Gretchell; and Gretchell’s distinct and powerful vocal delivery. ‘Bombs Away‘ has these hallmarks in droves, accompanied by a raucous and energetic musical turn from bandmates Clayton Herring on bass, Jeremiah Rhodes on drums and a guest appearance from former Thirsty Curses lead guitarist Kelley Otwell. ‘Bombs Away‘ is the lead single from the band’s 5th album ‘Music is a Scam‘ which is slated for release in February 2025. Stream the single HERE.
Ebolagoldfish- ‘Bad Choices, Good Times‘
“Last night I got too excited…” You can kind of guess the story behind the song by looking at the title, it’s about shall we say, overindulgence and then having to deal with the consequences the morning after, from hangovers to the walk of shame. Aussie three-piece Ebolagoldfish have spent two decades in the Australian punk scene and there’s no sign of slowing down yet. ‘Bad Choices, Good Times‘ is taken from their new album of the same name, released today via Pee Records. Reflecting the tone of the album, the single is a tongue in cheek and light-hearted party anthem but the band are not all frivolity and hair-of-the-dog. Although the band are definitely advocates of a good time (and their music is almost guaranteed to provide one), there are often lessons to be learned in their capers as the band have moments of introspection between the shots and badass riffs.
The album and single ‘Bad Choices, Good Times‘ are out on 15/11 and you can get your purchasing or streaming options HERE.
Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs- ‘Detroit‘
Pigs X7 are back with the first taste of new material since February 2023’s ‘Land of Sleeper‘ album release. The band’s return is a full on, brooding bit of noise rock that reflects the subject matter of the track, as frontman Matt Baty explains: “‘Detroit’ reflects on the worst manifestations of male jealousy and resentment, and the ways in which a lack of accountability can lead to deflecting responsibility in exchange for blaming external forces like fate or God for perceived injustice”. It’s heavy, it’s dark and it’s unsettling- and it is a fine return to the fray for the Newcastle band who have been going since 2012. The other great thing about the track is proceeds which this track generates will be donated by the band to domestic abuse charities ahead of their 2025 tour. Link to purchase (and thus donate) is HERE.
Human Potential- ‘Ruts‘
To quote Monty Python, now for something completely different. So, not really punk by many definitions but a bloody good song to end today’s playlist. Human Potential is the musical project of Andrew Becker, an award-winning filmmaker and former drummer for Dischord Records’ band Medications and Brooklyn’s Screens. Sumptuous and intricate, ‘Ruts’ is a sweet slice of retro-pop taken from the new album ‘I Write Wedding Songs’- the cover image of which is a photo from Becker’s parent’s wedding reception. Mixing the personal with the ethereal, Human Potential are able to mix poignant moments with catchy, complex scores in a creatively refreshing way. Check out the album HERE.
And that’s it for this week folks! It’ll be pretty much exclusively Christmas music in my household soon so if you know of any punk bands releasing festive tracks PLEASE send them my way!
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